JUNIOR OLYMPICS:

MISSION VIEJO — It must be a big tournament when even the gold standard isn’t good enough.

The Corona del Mar girls 18-and-under club water polo team qualified for the Platinum Division with two pool-play victories Thursday in the opening day of the S&R; Sports USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics.

After a 14-2 morning triumph over the Viking Club from Long Beach, CdM, comprised solely of girls from the CdM High, where the Sea Kings finished 26-9 and reached the CIF Southern Section Division I title game a year ago then lost only three players to graduation, pulled out a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Stanford Club Thursday afternoon at Capistrano Valley High.

The victory propelled CdM into the Platinum Division with the other 24 top teams in the 48-team field. The remaining teams will compete in the Gold Division. CdM begins play in a three-team pool today at 11:45 a.m. at Capo Valley, bidding to be one of the four teams that advance to the Platinum Division semifinals and final.

The two wins-and-through result was anything but assured, however, as Stanford, a team that defeated CdM by one goal in an earlier summer matchup, stayed even for much of a contest that was scoreless through nearly three quarters.

Victoria Kent opened the scoring for CdM with 38 seconds left in the third period, caroming a shot off of a Stanford defender and past the goalie to halt the exclusive defensive domination.

After Stanford tied it 34 seconds into the six-minute fourth period, CdM pulled ahead on a smoothly executed six-on-five play. The goal, giving CdM its first conversion after two failed six-on-five opportunities, was scored by Victoria Kennedy, who was wide open with most of the cage exposed on the left wing, after receiving a cross-pool pass from the right wing by Elise Molnar.

Kate Baldoni, a first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I goalkeeper and the Newport-Mesa Co-Player of the Year as a junior, anchored a defense that also featured Molnar and included steals by six different players.

Baldoni, who was named Outstanding Goalkeeper of the tournament while leading the U.S. junior national team to victory at the Global Championships earlier this month, made seven saves, including a point-blank shot in the first period and several other quality chances.

Heather Van Hiel rounded out the scoring with 1.6 seconds left, arching a lob from about 10 meters out into upper right corner of the cage.

Baldoni said winning the crucial game should give No. 10-seeded CdM some confidence heading into the Platinum Division of a tournament they entered with anticipation.

“Our team is really pumped up for this tournament and we all came out hard,” said Baldoni, who noted the earlier loss to Stanford provided even more motivation. “My teammates [on defense] made it easy for me.”

Coach Kyle Gorham, filling in for Aaron Chaney, who is in China to serve as a referee for the Olympic Games that begin in Beijing next week, said his team’s defense, as well as the ability to solve Stanford’s defensive scheme, was the difference.

“We finally executed the six-on-five [with Kennedy’s goal], but getting sorted out on how to break [Stanford’s] drop [a defense in which players sag on CdM centers, located closest to the cage] helped lead to that,” Gorham said.

“And I thought our defense was great. The thing about our girls is, they’re just so aware on defense. We’re able to prioritize threats and move. And, anybody will tell you that’s a big key to good defense.”

Gorham also singled out Baldoni and center defender Molnar.

“[Baldoni] has been the backbone of our defense for a long time and we’ve missed her,” Gorham said. “She has been traveling with the junior national team for a lot of the summer, so our girls got used to playing without her. Now that we have her back, it’s starting to click and it looks great. She’s just so consistent, she’s the backbone of our team.”

Gorham said Molnar’s rugged defense inside helped stymie would-be Stanford attacks.

“I know I’m probably a little biased, but I think Elise Molnar is one of the best center defenders in high school water polo,” Gorham said of the senior-to-be, who was second-team All-Pacific Coast League as a junior. “She’s balanced and her legs are so strong. And it’s one thing to have strong legs and another to be able to use your legs in defending. She has really figured that out. With her guarding two meters, I have no worries about us staying in a press [defense].”

Kennedy, Kent, Kate Berry, Margaret Money, Erin McAdams and Van Hiel also contributed to the strong defensive display.

“Any time you hold a team to one goal, regardless of the level, that’s phenomenal,” Gorham said.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].